Bottle-stopper.



No. 637,977. Patented Nov. 28, I899.

s. TWITCHELL.

BOTTLE STOPPER.

(Application filed Sept. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

SELDEN TWITCHELL OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOTTLE-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,977, dated November 28, 1899. Application filed September 23,1899. Serial No. 731,407. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SELDEN TWITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Stoppers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a bottle-stopper of the type or class wherein the stopper proper consists of a metallic button covered at its base with rubber and suspended from a bail, which bail is eccentrically pivoted to the neck of the bottle, and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of the stopper proper, whereby the same may be readily secured to or released from the bail.

The principal object of my invention is to provide in a bottle-stopper a simple and efficient means whereby the bail may be readily looked to the metallic portion of the stopper and as readily released therefrom; and to this end my invention primarilyconsists of a stop per wherein the metallic button portion is provided with a hook-shaped lug and is transversely slotted in the plane of said lug to receive a locking-pawl having an enlarged base or bearing-surface embedded in the rubber portion of the stopper and having a head projecting below the hooked lug and coactingi therewith to retain the bail.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the ac companying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the bottle-neck and of a stopper embodying the main features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the view illustrated in Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views, respectively, of the button and locking-pawl of the stopper.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the bail of the stopper, secured in the usual manner to the neck of the bottle I). The stopper of my invention, which is normally suspended from said bail, comprises three essential parts- -namely, a metallic button (1, a lockingpawl e, coacting with the button (1, and a rub ber stopperf, fitting into the neck of the bottle and into which the button (1 and its pawl e are inserted. The button cl is shown in detail in Fig. 4 and comprises aheaded base at, a flange (1 and a curved or hook-shaped lug d designed to receive the bail a. A portion of the button 01 below its flange (Z is transversely slotted, as at d in a plane which is in alinement with the lug d and the flange d is also vertically slotted, as at CF, to form an upward continuation of the slot d, the vertical slot (1 terminating directly below the end of the lug 01 as clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. In the slots (1 and (Z the pawl e is adapted to be fitted. As illustrated in Fig. 5, this pawl comprises a base 6', having a slightly-rounded bottom e and beveled ends c and e and a standard 6 projecting upward from the base at a point near one of the ends 6 of said base. The standard 6 has a head e, preferably beveled and adapted, when the pawl is in position, to rest below the free end of the curved lug (1 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. gether, the base 6 of the pawl e tits into the transverse slot (1 of the button at and forms a continuation of the base of said button, and the standard a with its head a", projects through the vertical slot (i When the rubber portion 1 of the stopper is fitted to the button cl and its pawl e, the rubber, as illustrated in Fig. 2, will fill out the space between the head 0 and the end c of the base e and will also inclose or surround said base 6'. The pawl e is thus maintained in its proper position by a firm but elastic cushion, which responds sufficiently to a downward or'inward pressure upon the head c of the pawl to permit said head to be depressed a distance below the lug d to permit the entrance of the bail a or to permit of its removal from beneath the lug d Since the standard which carries the head e is arranged near one end of the base a, the pawl will not move directly up and down in the rubber stopper f, but will have an easy rocking movement in the rubber, which movement is less liable to result in the rupture or wearing out of the rubber f than a positive up-and-down movement would.

hen the parts are assembled tolug, said standard projecting from near one end of said base, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A bottle-stopper, comprising three parts, a metallic button, a locking-pawl and a rubber stopper, said button being transversely and vertically slotted for the reception of the pawl and having a curved'lug cooperating with said pawl to receive and retain the bail of the stopper and said pawl having a base and a head projecting from one end of said base, said rubber stopper inclosing the button and pawl and forming a cushion upon which the pawl is adapted normally to be maintained in upright position, the arrangement being such that downward pressure upon the head of the pawl will cause said pawl to rock in the rubber stopper, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SELDEN 'TWIToHELL.

Witnesses:

J. WALTER DOUGLASS, RICHARD O. MAXWELL. 

